Demon girls earn conference split with Fort Madison

While the first game may not have gone as planned, the Washington softball team responded well on Friday night.

Hosting Fort Madison in a conference-opening doubleheader, the Demons lost Game 1 13-0, after a tough inning brought 17 Fort Madison batters to the plate.

After that game, Washington quickly got revenge behind a strong pitching performance from Molly Sparks in a 6-2 victory.

?In all reality, we played eight solid innings out of the nine we played,? Washington softball head coach Ben Obermann said. ?We gave up 13 runs in that inning and we had a nice game going up to that point. We just made a few too many mistakes, and that opened the door.?

After the tough first game, the Demons rallied, and impressed the first-year Demon head coach.

?Overall, I?ve been impressed with how we?ve competed in every inning so far and how we haven?t hung our heads too much,? Obermann said. ?That?s encouraging to see with this group, because if we grasp it now, it?ll stay with us for the years to come.?

In the victory, Sparks allowed just two runs on eight hits and three walks, earning her first varsity victory.

?She?s continuing to prove herself,? Obermann said. ?That?s a product of her hard work. She?s been in the facility a lot this winter and spring, and it?s really showing. She?s going to earn more and more opportunities for us this year.

Next up for the Demons is a conference challenge against the No. 6 ranked Fairfield Trojans, who were a state qualifier last season.

?Last year during the regular season, they played some close games, but then got bounced in the first round,? Obermann said. ?The girls are looking to have a shot against Fairfield, who is ranked highly in 4A. It?ll be a good measuring stick to see where we are at against one of the better teams in the state. We are going down there to face a quality opponent, and if we can put a quality seven innings together, we?ll be right there at the end.?